Shortage Of Drinking Water
p. 40 · Read in the full issue
At Mangaia, Cook Is.
From Our Mangaia Correspondent THE lack of any heavy showers for several months, has created an acute shortage of good drinking water.
The people now must go with buckets, tins, etc., to the muddy creeks that irri gate the Keia taro-patches.
Keia water, full as it is of gambusia minnows and other living things, includ ing mosquito-larvae and infant dragon flies, may possibly have the makings of an excellent stew but when drunk straight from the pail or tin, unboiled, as customary with the villagers, it is likely to have an adverse effect upon native health.
We would like to hear more of “Weil’s disease,” described by retiring Dr. C. M.
Dawson in April “PIM.” Cases have been known here of a mystery complaint that appears to attack the bloodstream and more particularly the spinal nerves, re ducing the patient to great weakness, and
this in spite of the absence of a high tem perature. Might the disease be the result of drinking infected creek-water, if caused, on Dr. Dawson’s affirmation, by “a wriggling microbe”?
In the case of Keia-water, even boiling does not remove the fishy smell of the fluid, though it undoubtedly slays the minnows, etc.
There is no substitute for pure rain water, straight from sky to tank, and, until we get a supply piped direct from the springs that well out of the foothills, and which at present is inaccessible, village health will be endangered during every dry spell.
Miss Barbara Grose, a daughter of the late Mr. W. Grose, a New Ireland planter, and Mrs. Grose, of Moss Vale, NSW, and Kavieng, was married in Sydney on July 21 to Mr. James (Sandy) McLeish, of Coonamble, NSW.
Mr. James Grose, of Kavieng, New Guinea, made a special trip to Sydney to attend the wedding.